POLICE are appealing for information after thugs tried to rob a train driver in York.

Officers from British Transport Police are investigating after the freight train driver was attacked in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, April 21, near the road bridge crossing between Water End and Poppleton Road.

The driver was on his way to work to relieve a colleague from duty at about 1.05am. He crossed the bridge and walked down the steps to the gate to York Yard North.

As he was unlocking the gate he was approached from behind by two men who then attacked him.

They kicked and punched him repeatedly and tried to steal his possessions, but when the driver fought back the two men fled the scene empty handed.

The driver received cuts and bruises to his face and had to be treated in hospital.

One attacker has been described as white and in his late teens to early 20s. He was wearing a grey hooded top and dark jeans. The second is described white, of a similar age, and was wearing a dark hooded top, dark jeans and dark footwear.

Detective Constable Lehman, of British Transport Police, said: "We are appealing for anyone who may have any information on this vicious unprovoked attack to contact us in strict confidence.

"The offenders themselves may have also received minor facial injuries as a result of the driver defending himself, which may assist in linking them to this crime.

"British Transport Police takes assaults on rail staff extremely seriously - everyone has the right to be able to go to work without fear of being attacked or abused in this way. Assaults on staff, physical or verbal, will not be tolerated and are one of our key policing priorities."

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or 0113 243 6686 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.